Philippine Navy Alarmed By The Presence Of Over 200 Chinese Warships At Mischief Reef

The Philippine Navy is concerned about more than 200 Chinese warships in the West Philippine Sea. These include People’s Liberation Army-Navy ships, maritime militia trawlers, and China Coast Guard vessels. The swarm is centred on Mischief Reef, a disputed region under Chinese sovereignty only 20 nautical miles from Second Thomas Shoal, which the Philippines occupy. The Philippine Navy’s spokesperson in the West Philippine Sea, Commodore Roy Vincent Trinidad, announced the fleet assembly while underlining how difficult it is to give a precise count because of the fleet’s frequent movement.

Beijing’s naval presence hasn’t deterred the Philippine military, which has stated that it will continue to back troops conducting patrols in the South China Sea. Concerns about possible threats to its soldiers have been voiced by Manila, especially in the vicinity of Second Thomas Shoal, where Filipino troops are stationed on the grounded BRP Sierra Madre. In 1999, the ship was purposefully grounded to support the Philippines’ claims to the Ayungin region.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. tried to communicate with China while promising to uphold national sovereignty. Despite the tensions, Marcos highlighted the significance of resolving disputes through peaceful discussions between equal sovereign states. During a recent official visit to Hanoi, agreements were reached by the Philippines and Vietnam to handle South China Sea events and provide communication channels between their coastguards.

Tensions in the region have increased as a result of China’s claims of sovereignty over the whole South China Sea, which violate an international decision from 2016 that favoured Manila. Nonetheless, the Philippines is still dedicated to strengthening its military connections with the U.S. and pursuing diplomatic initiatives to reduce hostilities with China. This is why the yearly Balikatan exercises involving U.S. soldiers are expected to be “bigger,” with more drills conducted across essential facilities, including those that face Taiwan. Beijing has accused Manila of interfering from abroad, but Manila sees both Beijing and the U.S. as vital partners in preserving regional stability and security.

The deployment of Chinese military vessels in the Mischief Reef has caused alarm in the Philippines. The Mischief Reef is located in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the Philippines, which was formerly under Manila’s authority but is currently a Chinese military base.

The U.S. and the Philippines conducted their second joint patrol in the South China Sea early in January. This was called a “Maritime Cooperative Activity” and marked a significant development in their military cooperation. Four ships from the U.S. Navy and the Philippine Navy participated in this cooperative operation. Two Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy destroyers carefully watched Philippine and American ships throughout the joint exercises.

Wang Wenbin, a spokesman for Chinese foreign policy, criticised the United States and the Philippines for their “muscle-flexing, provocative military activities” after the MCA. He pleaded with both countries to stop what Beijing views as “irresponsible moves” and to honour the regional states’ efforts to keep the South China Sea peaceful and stable. Competing territory claims contribute to the complexities of diplomatic relations and military manoeuvres, underscoring the region’s complex dynamics and geopolitical tensions.

Reference: SCMP, The Star

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